Liberty Utilities’ electric rate increase approved after billing review

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) - The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a rate increase for Liberty Utilities electric customers, set to begin Aug. 3, 2026, following a review that found the company met required billing and customer service standards.

The commission reviewed Liberty’s billing and customer service performance for January, February and March 2026, examining 466,000 bills. Staff found fewer than a dozen instances of non-compliance — a result the commission said exceeded expectations.

“This is a level of improvement that I believe Liberty should be commended for, and quite frankly, was one that I wasn’t sure we would ever see,” a commission member said during an on-the-record hearing held July 8, 2026.

The commission approved an increase in annual operating revenues of $97 million — less than the $152.8 million Liberty originally requested. The increase will be phased in over three years beginning Aug. 3, with approximately one-third implemented each year. Each phase is expected to raise customer bills by $9 a month.

As part of the order, Liberty must engage an independent third-party auditor to conduct external audits covering customer billing accuracy, timeliness, and customer service and satisfaction levels across all channels.

The company is also required to submit ongoing reports to the commission every three months.

Liberty must forgive $8.5 million in customer overdue balances through a targeted relief initiative. The company will work with stakeholders to design a program to distribute the funds.

The commission’s January 14, 2026, order had established specific billing and customer service metrics that Liberty was required to meet before any rate changes could take effect. The commission found Liberty satisfied those metrics with over 99% compliance.

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.